Flag anchor means for a flag pole



Oct. 8, 1963 s, SLICK I 3,106,187

FLAG ANCHOR MEANS FOR A FLAG POLE Filed June 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J6 IN V EN TOR.

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Oct. 8, 1963 F. s. SLICK FLAG ANCHOR MEANS FOR A FLAG POLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1962 M. ma 5 m P United States Patent 3,186,187 FLAG ANCHOR MEANS FUR A FLAG PGLE Fred S. Slick, Rockford, 11L, assignor to lick Eiectro Incorporated, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 204,778 Claims. (Cl. 116-7473) This invention relates to a means of displaying a flag, and especially to a means of anchoring the flag to a pole.

Flags are usually provided with eyelets or grommets at two corners through which a cord is passed and secured. The other end of the cord is then passed through a hole in the pole or over a pulley and fastened in a suitable manner to a cleat fixed to a support. After being so secured, the flag often sags away from the pole because of its weight, or tretches during periods of high humidity or rain, causing it to assume an unattractive appearance.

An object therefore of this invention is to generally improve flag-anchor means for flag poles.

Another object is to provide a flag-anchor means that maintains the flag in a taut condition during humid and wet weather conditions.

Another object is to provide a flag-anchor means that permits the flag to be quickly and conveniently removed from the pole.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following 7 detaled description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such Variations as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a flag pole having a liag secured thereto by means of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with parts broken away, of a portion of the flag pole of FIG. 1 and embracing the invention.

FIG. 3 is a projected view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the flag anchor means embraced by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is an axial view of the means shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a projected fragmentary view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the flag anchor shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 8 shows another modification of the flag anchor.

FIG. 9 shows the upper flag anchor, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, but which is substituted for the lower flag anchor 26 of FIG. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings; flag pole 10 is of the tubular collapsible type and comprises a lower tubular portion 12, and an upper tubular portion 14 which telescopes within portion 12 and abuts a suitable stop means in the latter. An ornamental ball cap 16 is assembled at the extremity of upper portion 14. Flag 18 has the usual grommets 2t) and 22, and is mounted on pole 10 by means of flag anchors 24 and 26 as shown "in FIG. 1.

The upper end or extremity of tubular portion 14 is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 along one side of the periphery thereof and which slot extends from the extremity for a distance approximately as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Flag anchor 24 comprises a cylindrical coil-spring portion 30, of the form shown in FIGS. 2 through 6 and having a first end 31. The maximum diameter of portion 30 is made a free sliding fit in the bore 32 of portion 14. Portion 30 terminates at the first end 21 thereof in a plurality of securing means such as end coils 34 and 36 which are of a diameter substantially in excess of V 3,106,17 Patented Oct. 8, 1963 "ice that of the bore 32 of portion 14. The purpose of coils 34 and 36 is to provide a stop whereby the upper end of anchor 24 is prevented from entering bore 32. -It is Within the purview of this invention, however, to employ as many of these coils 34 and 36 as seems advisable.

The opposite or second end 38 of coil-spring 34 extends transversely in a portion which is formed so as to extend radially through slot 28 to terminate in a hook 4'9.

Ball cap 16 is hollow and is provided with a ferrule 42 having a bore 44 of adiameter slightly less than the diameter of tubular portion 14, so that when ferrule '42 is forced over the tubular portion 14 the latter will compress and be' permitted to hold ball cap 16 securely. Cap 16 is forced axially to a position so that securing coils 34 and 36 are held between the extremity 46 of tubular portion 14 and the inner surface of cap 16 as shown in FIG. 2. When the cap 16 has been so assembled, the second end 38 of anchor 24 will take the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, namely, in contact with the edge of ferrule 42.

When a flag such as 18 is to be mounted on flag pole 10, grommet 22 of the flag is' placed on the hook of anchor 26 and then extended against the tension of the anchor 26 so that grommet 20 can be placed upon hook 40 of anchor 24. Thus flag 18 will be held taut and the tension of anchors 24 and 26 will maintain it in that condition during humid and rainy conditions.

The modification shown in FIG. 7 com-prises a flag anchor 48 having at least two abutment coils 50 and 52, of a diameter in excess of that of the bore 32 of portion 14. Ferrule 42 is forced over the tubular portion 14 until the upper inner surface of cap 16 urges coil 50* into contact with the extremity 46, thus securing anchor 48 axially in place. Anchor 48 has .a-plurality of coils 54, at least 3, integral with and adjoining coil 50, which coils 54 have a major diameter slightly in excess of the dia-meter of the bore 32 so that when ferrule 42 is pressed on tubular portion 14, coils 54 will be supported against shifting normal to the axis of bore 32. The remaining coils of anchor 48 are free to move axially in tubular portion 14 and terminate in a second end 38,.iand in a hook 40. The purpose of coils 54 is to provide additional support normal to the axis for the anchor 48.

The modification shown in FIG. 8 is similar to the anchor of FIG. 2 with the following exception: The plurality of coils 56, of a diameter such as those indicated as 36 of FIG. 2, are resiliently compressed axially by cap 16 so that coil 58 contacts extremity 46 thus securing the anchor against axial displacement.

The modification shown in FIG. 9 comprises placing a second anchor 24, as shown in FIG. 2 in the lower end of tubular portion '14 but axially reversed. A slot 60 is provided to accommodate the second end 38. A pin 62 is inserted in the wall of portion 14 between two adjoining coils of anchor '24 to prevent axial shifting of the latter. A stop 64 is formed in tubular member 12 to limit the axial position of portion 14 within the portion 12.

It is contemplated to provide more than one slot such as 28 if necessary to provide the necessary compressibility when pressing cap 16 in place. This slot is indicated as 66, and is diametrically opposite to slot 28.

It is also contemplated to provide another slot 68 on posite slot 60 to give the necessary friction for the fit of portion 14 within portion 12.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A flag anchor means, for a flag pole having an extremity and a longitudinal bore thereat defining a peripheral wall, said wall having a longitudinal slot therein and opening into said bore, an anchor member comprising a cylindrical coil spring having a body diameter that freely enters said bore, said spring having an end coil at one end thereof of a diameter in excess of that of said bore, said end coil abutting said extremity, the other end of said coil spring having an end extending transversely through said slot and terminating in a hook, and a cap having a ferrule, fitted externally about said Wall and securing said end coil into abutment with said extremity.

2. A flag anchor means, for a flag pole having an extremity and a longitudinal bore thereat defining a peripheral Wail, said wall having a longitudinal slot therein opening into said bore, an anchor member comprising a coil spring freely fitted in said bore, said spring having securing means at one end thereof adapted to engage said extremity, the other end of said spring having an end extending transversely through said slot and terminating in a hook, and a cap having a portion engaging said securing means with said extremity.

'3. A flag anchor means, for a flag pole having an extremity and a longitudinal bore thereat defining a peripheral wall, said wall having a longitudinal slot therein opening into said bore, an anchor member comprising a coil spring freely fitted co -axially in said bore adjacent said extremity and having a first end and a second end, means to secure said first end against axial displacement relative to said bore, said second end extending transversely through said slot and terminating in a flag engaging means.

4. A flag anchor means, for a flag pole having a longitudinal bore therein defining a peripheral Wall, said wall having a longitudinal slot, an anchor member comprising a coil spring freely positioned co-axially within said bore and having a first end and a second end, means to secure said first end against displacement relative to said bore, the other end of said spring extending through said slot and outwardly of said wall and terminating in a flagengaging means.

5. A flag anchor means, for a flag pole having an extremity and a longitudinal bore thereat defining a peripheral Wall, said wall having a longitudinal slot therein and opening into said bore, an anchor member comprising a cylindrical coil spring having a first body diameter that freely enters said bore, a second portion being of a diameter to abut said extremity and extend axially from said extremity, and an intermediate portion between said firs-t and second portions and being of a diameter to be forced into said bore, the extremity of said first body diameter extending outwardly through said slot and terminating in a flag engaging means, and a cap having a ferrule fitted externally about said well, and securing said second portion into abutment with said extremity.

Prohm Mar. 30, 1897 Diago Dec. 14, 1926 

1. A FLAG ANCHOR MEANS, FOR A FLAG POLE HAVING AN EXTREMITY AND A LONGITUDINAL BORE THEREAT DEFINING A PERIPHERAL WALL, SAID WALL HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN AND OPENING INTO SAID BORE, AN ANCHOR MEMBER COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL COIL SPRING HAVING A BODY DIAMETER THAT FREELY ENTERS SAID BORE, SAID SPRING HAVING AN END COIL AT ONE END THEREOF OF A DIAMETER IN EXCESS OF THAT OF SAID BORE, SAID END COIL ABUTTING SAID EXTREMITY, THE OTHER END OF SAID COIL SPRING HAVING AN END EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID SLOT AND TERMINATING IN A HOOK, AND A CAP HAVING A FERRULE, FITTED EXTERNALLY ABOUT SAID WALL AND SECURING SAID END COIL INTO ABUTMENT WITH SAID EXTREMITY. 